Walker Tradesman Construction was given the 2018 Torch Award for Ethics by Abilene’s Better Business Bureau Thursday at Hardin-Simmons University.

The Torch Award for Ethics 2018 honors companies whose leaders demonstrate a high level of personal character, and ensure that organizations meet high standards of ethics – and consequently, generate trust, said Fran Stone, BBB chairperson.

“Our thought on this deal was always to give you more than what you thought you would get and always leave you smiling,” company President Steve Walker said in a video presentation during the awards.

“This isn’t just about us, this is about our employees,” Walker said. “… They’re willing to go that extra mile for everybody, and they just do an incredible job. It means a lot. It’s been a long road, and sometimes it’s been a bumpy road. But we’ve managed to stick to what got us here, and we’re going to continue to do that.”

Walker Tradesman was started through the purchase in 2008 of Flournoy Plumbing. The company reinvented itself after the economic collapse shortly thereafter, now providing plumbing and constructions services in West Texas and New Mexico.

Specializing in kitchen and bathroom remodeling, “being on time and within budget” is the company’s goal.

Among other unique characteristics, the company takes time to meet weekly with employees to discuss consistent pricing and ethical practices, also developing a report to share profit and loss information with employees.

Runners-up were:

► Autocheck Plus, owned and operated by Brad Barron.

In business for 33 years, the three-employee shop has a business philosophy of believing “every customer who comes here is sent by God.”

“Whenever we hire somebody new, one of the first things that I tell them is (that) there are two things I don’t want to ever have happen: I don’t want you to steal from me, and I don’t want you to lie to me,” Barron said in a video.

Being truthful with customers is another cornerstone, he said, since good word of mouth is great advertising.

“That’s where we get a lot of our business,” he said.

► Willis Supply Company, led by Darrell Knight, the company’s principal and general manager.

The company began in 1948 and has a philosophy of maintaining “excellent products for an excellent value.”

“We all work together very closely,” Knight said, employees working to take care of one other. “I think we have an extremely good reputation, not just here but in all the surrounding areas.”

One thing that impressed the competition's judges about the business was that all new employees shadow each employee at their job before starting their own work.

Mark Viertel was the event’s keynote speaker, noting that ethics is defined as a system of moral principles that “govern our decisions daily,” coming from family, faith, tradition, community, laws and personal.

Viertel, a native of Albany, has more than 30 years of organizational and personnel management experience ranging from first-line supervision to CEO across multiple industries both domestically and internationally.

Ethical businesses must be established from the top-down with that sort of culture in mind, among both leaders and employees.

An ethical business demonstrates integrity and respect by adhering to the law, dealing fairly with customers and their vendors, paying debts on time, and being environmentally responsible, Viertel said.

“Ethics are good for business and shareholder trust,” he said.

In the case of family-owned businesses, ethical practices also stand to keep one’s family name in good stead, while all businesses must engage in dignity, respect and fairness.

A lack of ethics can result in immense real-world consequences, such as legal issues or criminal charges, he said.